My Most Unusual Interior Design Tip
I’m often asked for design tips and secrets. They tend to be fairly standard, like how hanging curtain rods at the ceiling height will create the illusion of larger windows. Today I’m going to share a tip which is more surprising, even weird.
Design Tip: Put Wallpaper on the Ceiling
My clients are always a bit unsure when I propose to wallpaper the ceiling of one of their rooms. They’ve never seen that before! Well, it is something I have been doing for years with great results. And with the renewed interest everyone has in using wallpaper, I’d say it’s becoming a trend.
One should be careful when selecting which wallpaper to use on a ceiling and where. Here’s the skinny:
Keep it light
With a few rare exceptions, you want to use wallpaper that’s light in color and pattern. Dark colors and heavy, busy patterns tend to make the ceiling look lower. Sometimes that’s done intentionally though. If you have a small room, like a Powder Room, with very high ceilings, wallpapering the ceiling will make the room feel more comfortable.
2. You can use the same wallpaper on the ceiling that you use on the walls
Doing this crates a jewel box effect. It is especially nice to do in Powder Rooms and other small areas, like Vestibules. Be sure to remove any crown molding if doing this so as not to chop up the paper area.
3. You can use wallpaper on the ceiling and paint on the walls
Notice the sky motif of this wallpaper. It really draws your eye up.
4. Stripes on the ceiling
Stripes can look fabulous on the ceiling. It adds rhythm to the space. Be sure to use a larger stripe or it will get lost up there.
Bonus unusual design tip: the hidden door
Do you have a weird door that’s ruining the flow in an area of your house and you want it to disappear (for example: a broom closet that opens into the Dining Room)? Make it a hidden door! There are many ways to do this. You can buy or have built, a tall bookcase that’s also a door. You can put mirror along one wall and put same mirror on the offending door. Wallpaper is great for making a hidden door.
And for my final tip, use touch latch hardware on your hidden door so that a door knob doesn’t give away the secret.
Until next time,
P.S. Would you like to know how much your interior design project may cost? Download my complimentary Investment Guide here.